Even to the most casual of observers, the iPhone 4S is a runaway hit the demand for which can still be felt at each and every retail location where the device is carried. Naturally, it came as a surprise to many this week when a prominent Taiwanese newspaper reported that international demand for the new iPhone has apparently begun to slow.

Chinese-language "Commercial Times" rocked the Web with reports (based on information gleaned from the ubiquitous "unnamed sources") stating that Apple has significantly reduced orders for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 for the fourth quarter of this calendar year. According to this report, Apple has already reduced shipments by upwards of 15%.

Just hours after this controversial claim was made, a number of prominent analysts and industry watchers stepped forward to assert that none of their sources concur with the allegations of reduced shipments and the underlying assertion that demand is slowing enough to curb Apple's production appetite.

"One explanation is that the reduced orders (if true) may be related more to AAPL pulling back its typical over-ordering of components... to secure availability, particularly for this high profile launch during the holidays, rather than slowing sell-through vs street expectations," observed Mike Abramsky with RBC Capital Markets today.

Similarly, analyst Maynard Um with UBS Investment Research went one step further and shot down the slowing demand speculation by calling the Commercial Times report factually challenged and largely "without merit."